New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern surprisingly announced her resignation. At her first press conference of the year, she announced she would step down on February 7.
“I know what you need for this job and I know that I don’t have enough left in the tank. It’s that simple,” she explained her decision. “We all give as long as we can give and then it’s over. And for me it’s time now.”
Her resignation will take effect upon the appointment of a successor. A new leader of the Labor Party is to be elected on Sunday.
When she was elected Prime Minister in 2017, Ardern became one of the youngest women to head a government at the age of 37. A new New Zealand government will be elected on October 14.